Science Seminars is a weekly list of science-related seminars sponsored by colleges, research institutes, and other organizations throughout Penn State. Science Seminars is published by the Penn State Eberly College of Science as a service to Penn State and its surrounding communities

Science Seminars

28 October to 3 November 2002

 

MONDAY, 28 OCTOBER

"Liquid-Crystalline Dendrimers," Anurima Singh, Penn State, 11:15 a.m., S-5 Osmond Laboratory, Department of Chemistry (865-1213).

"The Verlinde Formulas as Fixed-Point Formulas," Eckhard Meinrenken, University of Toronto, 11:15 a.m., 110 Thomas Building, Department of Mathematics (865-7527).

"From Cytochrome b5 Models to the Real Thing: Probing the Relationship Between Structure, Stability, and Function," David Benson, University of Kansas, 1:15 p.m., S-5 Osmond Laboratory, host: Richard Koerner, Department of Chemistry (865-6234).

"Aphid Vectors of Plum Pox Virus and Their Potential Influence on Viral Microevolution," Chris Wallis, Penn State, 3:30 p.m., 112 Buckhout Laboratory, Department of Plant Pathology (865-3761).

"Current and Emerging Pharmacological Approaches to Management of Overweight and Obesity," Steven P. Weinstein, Regeneration Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 4:00 p.m., 108 Wartik Laboratory, Intercollege Graduate Program in Nutrition (865-3448).

"Structure and Regulation of a Yeast-Membrane-Organizing Center," Aaron Neiman, State University of New York, 4:00 p.m., 101 Althouse Laboratory, host: T. W. Davis Ng, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (865-3072).

 

TUESDAY, 29 OCTOBER

"Kolmogorov Complexity and 1-Random Reals," Carl Mummert, Penn State, 2:30 p.m., 312 Boucke Building, Department of Mathematics (865-7527).

"Carbon-Nanotube Electronics -- The Inside Story," Charles Johnson, University of Pennsylvania, 3:30 p.m., 339 Davey Laboratory, host: Ying Liu, Department of Physics (863-0090).

"Building Biological Communities the Old-Fashioned Way -- With Evolution," Mark McPeek, Dartmouth College, 4:00 p.m. (refreshments at 3:45 p.m.), 101 Althouse Laboratory, host: Jim Marden, Department of Biology (863-0278).

"Dynamics, Thermodynamics, and Insights Into Protein Function," Linda Nicholson, Cornell University, 4:00 p.m., S-5 Osmond Laboratory, host: Philip Bevilacqua, Department of Chemistry (863-3812).

 

WEDNESDAY, 30 OCTOBER

(title to be announced), Yoshihito Niimura, Penn State, 12:10 p.m., 317 Mueller Laboratory, Institute of Molecular Evolutionary Genetics (863-7334).

"Cooperative Fluorescent Chemical Sensors," Timothy Glass, Penn State, 12:15 p.m., S-5 Osmond Laboratory, Department of Chemistry (865-1898).

"Purification and Identification of One Abscisic Binding Protein," Zhixin Zhao, Penn State, 12:20 p.m., 107 Wartik Laboratory, Intercollege Graduate Program in Plant Physiology (863-3892).

"Haar Measures on Compact-Matrix Quantum Groups and Geometry of Poisson Lie Groups," Milen Yakimov, Cornell University, 3:30 p.m., 103 Osmond Laboratory, Department of Mathematics (865-7527).

(title to be announced), Norman Barr, Penn State, 3:45 p.m. (refreshments at 3:30 p.m.), 317 Mueller Laboratory, Intercollege Graduate Program in Genetics (865-6903).

"Functional Impairments of Human Astrocytes Exposed to HIV-1 or gp120: Potential Contribution to HIV-1-Associated Neuropathogenesis," David Volsky, Columbia University, 4:00 p.m., 101 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building, host: Andrew Henderson, Department of Veterinary Science (863-0340).

"Physical Random Functions and Secure Computing," Srini Devadas, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 4:00 p.m., 302 Pond Laboratory, Department of Computer Science and Engineering (865-9505).

 

THURSDAY, 31 OCTOBER

"Phosphorylation and the Human Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor," Erick Clepper, Penn State, 11:15 a.m., 101 Althouse Laboratory, host: Gary Perdew, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (865-3072).

"Closed-Loop Identification for Process Control in Discrete-Part Manufacturing," Enrique del Castillo, Penn State, 4:00 p.m., 102 Thomas Building, Department of Statistics (865-1348).

"Relocating the Hypocentres of an Earthquake Swarm Near Waiouru, New Zealand," Gavin Hayes, Penn State, 4:00 p.m. (refreshments at 3:45 p.m.) 202 Research West Building, Department of Geosciences (863-9902 or 865-4203).

"The Search for Symmetry Transitions and Complex Order Parameters in Unconventional Superconductors," Dale van Harlingen, University of Illinois, 4:00 p.m., 117 Osmond Laboratory, host: Ying Liu, Department of Physics (863-0090).

"An Introduction to Operads With Applications to Physics," James Stasheff, University of North Carolina, 4:30 p.m., 102 McAllister Building, Department of Mathematics (865-7527).

"Some Connections between Combinatorics, Group Theory, Topology, and Computer Science, Mark Sapir, Vanderbilt University, (time to be announced), 103 McAllister Building, Department of Mathematics (865-7527).

 

FRIDAY, 1 NOVEMBER

"Chemical Identification of Termite-Feeding Stimulants from Preferred Wood," Lou Bjostad, Colorado State University, 11:15 a.m., 118 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building, Department of Entomology (865-1895).

"Orthopaedic Implants: From Theoretical Design and Mechanical Testing to in vitro and in situ Mechanotransduction," Marnie Saunders, Penn State, 12:15 p.m., 210 Hallowell Building, Department of Bioengineering (865-1407).

"Inflationary Cosmology and String-Theory Moduli Space," Eric Novak, Ben Gurion University (Israel), 2:30 p.m., 339 Davey Laboratory, Department of Physics (863-0090).

"Proterozoic Banded-Iron Formations and Hematite Deposits in Australia, South Africa, and Brazil: Towards a Unified Model," Mark E. Barley, University of Western Australia, 3:30 p.m., 8 Deike Building, Penn State Astrobiology Research Center (863-8761).

"Effects of Pasture-Plant Species and Their Fatty-Acid Content on Healthy Fats in Milk From Grazing Dairy Cows," Ellen Seconi, Penn State, 3:35 p.m., 101 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences (863-1601).

"The Hungry Heart: Myocardial Metabolism and Energetics in Heart Disease," Kurt Saupe, University of Wisconsin, 4:00 p.m., 127 Noll Laboratory, Noll Physiological Research Center (865-3454).

 

SATURDAY, 2 NOVEMBER and SUNDAY, 3 NOVEMBER

(none)

 

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Additions or cancellations will be noted on weekly Science Seminar listings on the Web.

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Science Seminars is a weekly list of science-related seminars sponsored by colleges, research institutes, and other organizations throughout Penn State. Science Seminars is published by the Penn State Eberly College of Science as a service to Penn State and its surrounding communities. Click here for additional information about Science Seminars, or for instruction on how to SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE.

Reporters for Science Seminars and the areas they cover are as follows: [agriculture: Kay Moore] [agronomy: Madeline Laubach and Charles Mancino] [anthropology: Alan Walker] [astrobiology: Linda Decker] [astronomy and astrophysics: Sue Tighe and Laura Sproat] [biochemistry and molecular biology: Tamara Housel] [biology: Paula Farwell] [center for gravitational physics and geometry: Karen Brewster] [ceramic science and engineering: April Benson] [chemical engineering: Ruth Smith] [chemistry: Teresa Beck] [college of the liberal arts science studies project: Londa Schiebinger] [computer science and engineering: Nancy Clark and Karen Alise Corl] [earth and mineral sciences: Linda Spangler] [intercollege graduate program in ecology: Debra Putt] [education: Tom Dana] [energy institute: Kelly Jo Rhoades] [entomology: Thelma Brodzina] [intercollege graduate program in genetics: Paula Farwell] [life sciences consortium: Janice Kennedy] [mathematics: Flossie Dunlop] [intercollege graduate program in nutrition: Judy Jones] [physics: Amy Long] [intercollege graduate program in physiology: LuAnn Weatherholtz] [intercollege graduate program in plant physiology: Janice Kennedy] [poultry science: Ruth Nyman] [science, technology, and society program: Karen Snare] [statistics: Bonnie Cain] [veterinary science: Loretta Muchinsky].

NOTICE: PRESS RELEASES AVAILABLE
Press releases occasionally are written for some of the lectures sponsored by the Eberly College of Science. If you would like to receive copies of these press releases in the future, send a note to Barbara K. Kennedy at SCIENCE@PSU.EDU. Your e-mail address will be added to a distribution list.

This publication is available in alternative media on request.

Penn State is an affirmative action, equal opportunity university. Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact the office in charge of the seminar in advance of your attendance. U.Ed. SCI 03-35

This issue of SCIENCE SEMINARS was produced by Barbara K. Kennedy and Andrew W. Elder.